i didnt know exactly where to place this thread so i figured here was as good a place as any.

I figured I also ask this question of the linux community because yall seem to havethe can do attitude, where as I have found most of the windows forums i have looked in say that what I am asking CANT be done.

my problem... I have a legal copy of XP pro that came with my laptop.. laptop dies... I want to migrate my XP pro to my desktop machine.. desktop machine is a winblows 2000 machine... =/ the OEM XP install dvd wont do an upgrade.. ok no problem. go to do a clean install only to find the cd key is lost.. now all the windows forums say that the cd key is NOT on the disk.. but then if it is not on the installation CD how can the set up program validate the cd key as being valid or not? so the CD key must be on the disk somewhere. I spoke to a friend of mine, and he thinks it is in the CAB files somewhere... if that is true then I would need to find that file and open it , decrypt it and find my key..

so I am asking the brainiacs of the linux community if they can help me find a way to get my OEM cd key off of my installation disk, because I certainly dont want to pay 300.00$ for another key when I already paid 1500.oo $ for my laptop that the OS came with =)

any ideas and thoughts on this would be appreciated =)

peace and God Bless yall =)

Madcap =)

You figured wrong. Your question doesn't have anything to do with GNU/Linux, and much less with GNU/Linux security. This thread is being moved to General, where it belongs. Additionally, keep in mind that depending on where exactly the discussion goes, the thread might be closed if it violates the anti-cracking stance of the LQ Rules.

If you need a CD key for a legitimate XP disk, you should call Microsoft on their local helpline number and they will be able to supply it for you.

Also: according to the windows EULA, you CANNOT transfer an OEM installation of Windows from one computer to another.

Regarding the validation of keys: what actually happens is the installer performs a bunch of math on the key and expects it to come out to some pre-determined value.

As Matir said, the key istself is not inside the files, rather an some code to see if the key meets certasin criteria.

And he is correct in that you can't legally transfer that OEM copy of XP. Part of the "discount" ($90 for OEM instead of $100+ for retail) you got on that OEM copy was in agreement (via the EULA) that you couldn't transfer it.

Now back when I was still buulding selling pc's the OEM license could be sold with one of there components, one being a system board (IIRC case and drive were the others, anyone that knows the current agreement verify, its been a while) so we would thought that as long that OEM copy was still using one of those three main components then it was legal. So if we were correct then transferring that laptop drive into the desktop still qualified you as having part of the legal OEM system. Of course if that laptop drive dies a year later then you replace it are you still legal? Same could be said of a desktop system where the system board and case are propriary and you move other components into a new case with new system board, are you still legal. My laptop for example I've replaced the drive, and upgraded the system baord from the 1GHZ to a 1.2GHz one so the case is the only original part. What if I drop it and crack the case and have to replace it, its still a dell laptop but its not the original one that that license key was originally tied to, so can I still legally use that key?

Those are some of the many reasons I don't run windows anymore.

gee sounds like somone has a tude... =/ just trying to get infomation as to how I can use legally obtained software with out haveing to bend over and let billy boy stick it to me...

and yes I did call microsuck and tell them what the deal was and they said to go to the maker of the laptop.. =/ went there they said talk to microsoft... so you see the silly circle I would be running. Yes I have the reciepts for the laptop.. incidentally cost me 1500.oo $ when I bought it... for that price I dam well should be able to do what I want with the leagally purchased software...

this is why I am asking if anyone knows a way I can recover my cd key...

or at least explain howthe hell they can validate something that is not in the software in the first place.

ADDENDUM..

for the price we pay for the use of software we as consumers have the right to get as much use out of it as we can short of selling it illegally which is the only protection the copyright affords microsoft. and if everyone is affraid to let the information out that allows users to get the fullest use out of a leaggaly bought product then we have been taken for a ride by a guy who was a software thief himself.. yes thats right I siad it we all know billy stole the Idea for windows from the guys at apple... so whats wrong with gettin a little payback from a guy who stole the idea in the first place.. ( <--- a hypothetical question )

I think you should be careful what you say and who you say it to.


Hypothetical or not there's been enough suggesting and explaining done for you to understand the score.
Reasoning it your way won't help because what you want would be against the LQ Rules.
Persist and all I can do is close this thread.

It's the legality of it. I'm not talking morality, just legality. It's what's in the big black binders.

In using the MS software, you agree to the EULA. The EULA is a binding contract. Since you originally agreed to it when you first turned on your laptop, there's no going back, at least for that copy of Windows.

You don't own the Windows OS, you are just licensed for a particular (single) installation, which usually is restricted to 1 specific piece of hardware.

Of course, you do have Linux to fall back on, whose licenses are generally covered by GNU, and which are generally much less restrictive.

Sorry, but you DON'T have that right. When you use the software, you agree to a license that specifically limits your ability to use it in certain ways or to transfer it to a new computer. You do NOT buy software: you license it under very specific terms.

It's rather lowball to ask, or even to seem to ask, for assistance in what even might possibly be "breaking the law."

Any PC shop worth its salt will have an OEM copy of Windows and will be able to assist you, upon suitable evidence of purchase. They also might be able to sell you a licensed copy -- non-OEM -- of the Windows version that you have. Yes, you'll have to pay for that, but it's a resource you want to have in your hands regardless to deal with future situations exactly like this one.

Don't ask for assistance in ... what even might be seen as ... "breaking the law."

well then I see I was wrong to even think that the linux community would even know if there is a way to recover a cd key for a leagally purchased item, and I know that you will say that the license is for one machine only, and that is true but only one machine at a time, what everyone is speaking of is if the same software is used on multiple machines at the same time..... what I had asked for was not illegal and it seems as though to completely answer the question of legality we would need to get an opinion from a lawyer who is versed in the laws of software piracy.

Seems as though you have all bought , hook, line, and sinker, Microsoft's garbage.. and yes I do use linux for all my important work.

But I think I will most likely not be asking too many questions from the linux community in the future... and to thoes who say I did not understand what has been expalined I did, but think on this.. if the invnetors of the computer, the internet, and all the other myriad items we use today thought as most of the responders do here, that things are impossible... we would not be having this conversation here.

Thank you for your time and responses, I will seek my answers elswhere where the freeflow of information is not restricted by Billy Gates and the corporate board of Microsoft.

peace yall

Learn to read the license when you obtain software and don't blame anybody here for not helping you to crack software.

What you asked to do is illegal besides - hell if I would know how I'd tell you how to get the key.Really.
Imagine the look on your face when the OS doesn't install on the other machine with the key - because it won't...

Aw, bless. Do not come to a site, ask a question where the answer could involve getting the answerer in trouble and then get hurt because no one will give you a crack. You were given several options, all of which are perfectly legal and usable.

No one is forcing you to use Windows. However, if you do use it you have to abide by their rules. Why do you think so many people move to Linux?

If the above choices are no good to you, your next option is to buy a new copy or try a different OS.

well first off this has nothing to do with security so I don't know why you put that in your title. But its already been explained, the cd does not contain a key or keys, it contains and algorithm that is applied against the key to enter to determine if its valid or not. the people that write the keygens simply revere engineer that algorithm, but since you have hand thousands of different keys that give the same output (valid) there really isn't any way to tell which key was yours.
Its a moot point anyway because an OEM copy cannot be installed on another system, doesn't matter if its only on one system or not, the OEM license was only authorized on that one system ever. Thats one of the limitations of the OEM license.